TOWN OF GRATIOT - The late Robert Lee Hermanson, the former treasurer for the Gratiot Fire District in Lafayette County, is under investigation for allegedly embezzling more than $130,000 over the last five years.
Hermanson died of an apparent suicide April 9, the day after he was asked by Gratiot municipal officials about the lack of money in the fire district fund. Prior to Hermanson's death, Gratiot Village attorney Duane Jorgenson said, municipal officials found unexplained expenses pulled from the fire district's checking account.
Jorgenson said the municipality has filed a complaint against Hermanson's estate for $134,229 on behalf of the village, Town of Gratiot and the Gratiot Fire District. He said a certified public accountant is currently looking through financial records in conjunction with the Lafayette County Sheriff Department's investigation.
"His report should be done in a couple of weeks or so," Jorgenson said.
Online court records also allege credit card companies FIA Card Services N.A. and Discover Bank are seeking funds of $577 and $537, respectively.
Hermanson was the owner and operator of Murf's Bar and was elected clerk/treasurer for the village and treasurer of the Gratiot Fire District. According to his obituary, he served in the U.S .Army and was Master of the Gratiot American Legion Post No. 0177.
Court records indicate that while Hermanson was in a volunteer position as treasurer to the fire district, he wrote checks for himself. He allegedly paid himself about $18,000 over a five-year period. The checks usually ran between $200 to $300 with no receipts to match the funds. It is further alleged that law enforcement recovered a bank bag from Hermanson's home with $5,429 in it. The bag had the words "Camper" on it. Hermanson also collected money from the town's campsite where campers paid $15 per night.
Jorgenson said the funds alleged in the complaint are an estimate but that "our numbers are really good now, and pretty much confirmed."
Jorgenson said the circumstances of the investigation are very trying and that "nearly everyone who knew Bob Hermanson considered him a friend.
"It is our hope that everyone would respect the grief this community is suffering over the loss of our friend," he said.
Hermanson died of an apparent suicide April 9, the day after he was asked by Gratiot municipal officials about the lack of money in the fire district fund. Prior to Hermanson's death, Gratiot Village attorney Duane Jorgenson said, municipal officials found unexplained expenses pulled from the fire district's checking account.
Jorgenson said the municipality has filed a complaint against Hermanson's estate for $134,229 on behalf of the village, Town of Gratiot and the Gratiot Fire District. He said a certified public accountant is currently looking through financial records in conjunction with the Lafayette County Sheriff Department's investigation.
"His report should be done in a couple of weeks or so," Jorgenson said.
Online court records also allege credit card companies FIA Card Services N.A. and Discover Bank are seeking funds of $577 and $537, respectively.
Hermanson was the owner and operator of Murf's Bar and was elected clerk/treasurer for the village and treasurer of the Gratiot Fire District. According to his obituary, he served in the U.S .Army and was Master of the Gratiot American Legion Post No. 0177.
Court records indicate that while Hermanson was in a volunteer position as treasurer to the fire district, he wrote checks for himself. He allegedly paid himself about $18,000 over a five-year period. The checks usually ran between $200 to $300 with no receipts to match the funds. It is further alleged that law enforcement recovered a bank bag from Hermanson's home with $5,429 in it. The bag had the words "Camper" on it. Hermanson also collected money from the town's campsite where campers paid $15 per night.
Jorgenson said the funds alleged in the complaint are an estimate but that "our numbers are really good now, and pretty much confirmed."
Jorgenson said the circumstances of the investigation are very trying and that "nearly everyone who knew Bob Hermanson considered him a friend.
"It is our hope that everyone would respect the grief this community is suffering over the loss of our friend," he said.